Have
you ever started reading a book and by the beginning of the second
chapter you think of all the people you know who could really use
this kind of book? (In a good, encouraging kind of way - not a
self-righteous, "I'm trying to fix you" kind of way!) Mike
Nappa's God
in Slow Motion
is the latest book to fall into that category for me.
With
chapter titles like, "Mysterious Grace," "Stolen
Miracles," and "Insulting Greatness," to name a few,
this book had my interest before I even started reading. And once I
started reading, I was hooked. This was the book I've been looking
for - it was rooted in the truth of the Scriptures, but with a very
practical, "what this looks like in real life" theme. And
for concrete thinkers like myself this book was a true help in my
walk.
One
of the aspects of this book that was encouraging to me was the
section in the “Brutal Love” chapter where Nappa brings to light
the promises of Scripture that are not going to be found in current
feel-good, prosperity gospel kinds of current literature. You know,
the ones like, “In this world you will have trouble” (John
16:33). Real life can be very difficult and it was a great comfort to
be reminded that through it all, good, bad, ugly and everything else,
Christ is there with us... even when we don't understand or agree
with what's happening – and that's a reminder I really need every
once in a while.
At
the end of the book, the author requests that you don't keep the
book, but instead give it away to someone. And as much as I would
love to share this, I can't bring myself to give away my copy. I
really will be buying copies for those people that I thought of when
I started reading. Then we'll see if they can give away theirs at the
end!